IF you want to combine a fabulous beach holiday with an African safari then Mombasa in Kenya must be a prime contender.

The week I went it was hot and sunny with a light breeze while at home the weather was ­deciding whether to rain or snow.

As my pals in Britain were ­reaching for umbrellas – I was seeking out shade ­under palm trees at Coco’s Beach Bar.

There was white sand between my toes and a tropical breeze washing over my body.

I marvelled at the countless coconut palms stretching to the sky, their spiky fronds spread out like fingers.

As the warm waters of the Indian Ocean lapped up on Mombasa’s Jomo Kenyatta Beach, long-legged wading birds looked for food in the shallows and local vendors displayed their wares nearby.

I sat at the water’s edge ­cradling an ice-cold bottle of Tusker beer and could feel the knots in my ­muscles – left over from the flight – begin to give way, the breeze and ­lager doing their job.

Just past the line of coco palms stands the grounds of the Sarova Whitesands ­resort. Its white arab-style ­architecture was glowing pink in the afternoon sun and hotel guests enjoyed the last of the day’s heat at the swim-up bar at the resort’s pool.

I’m normally not the kind of fella who likes sitting on a beach. My work as a photographer ­usually brings me more up close and personal with events in Afghanistan. Of late, running my toes through sand has been more likely to ­unearth landmines than seashells.

But still, everyone needs a holiday.

“Jambo, jambo,” said William, one of the hotel’s attendants. “Your room is ready now, Mr Douglas.”

Reluctantly I dragged­­­ ­myself up off the sugary beach and followed him. My room was large and airy with a ­balcony and ­impressive views over the pool and sea beyond.

A mosquito net hung around the bed as the first line of defence against the little nippers. The bathroom was ­immaculate with a large supply of crisp white towels. There was lots of closet space and a security safe big enough to store a carry-on bag.

The only negative point was it all looked a bit dated. But that will be put right by a hotel-wide ­renovation project which is soon to start. The Whitesands truly is the five-star jewel in the crown of the Sarova chain.

Lying on the coast to the north of Mombasa, 40??minutes from the city centre and close to Kenya’s best safari parks, it has long been popular with holidaymakers.

The resort occupies nearly 108,000 square yards of well-kept grounds. There are elegant wide stretches of green lawns with paths leading to one of the ­hotel’s many pools.

A large number of sun ­loungers dotted around the ­resort makes it easy for ­visitors to ­maximise their tans.

Topping all this off is 300 metres of white sandy beach ­bordering the deep blue of the tropical ocean.

But what makes or breaks a resort is not the number of rooms or how much beach it has, it is the people you meet who are working there.

And the staff at Whitesands set a great example.

From housekeeping and ­barmen to ­waiters – all of them were happy to help.

I am usually up before the sun and it was no different here.

I was on the beach by 6am, ­getting a run in before the heat of the day descended.

After a shower and ­breakfast at the restaurant’s ­excellent ­buffet I went exploring along the seafront. It’s more carnival than beach. Masai men dressed in their ­finest traditional clothing and trappings pose for pictures. Camel drovers patrol the sands touting for punters to take a ride, while every third guy is offering cruises on a dhow – a traditional Arab sailing boat. But it is all done with a soft-sell approach.

After a few days of lounging by the pool I was ready to go on ­safari. I opted for a two-day trip to Tsavo East, the largest game park in Kenya and only a two-hour drive from Mombasa, the country’s second largest city after the capital Nairobi.

My guide and driver – another William – picked me up early, and immediately on entering the national park we encountered wildlife – a small group of Thomson’s gazelles.

While I was there I stayed at the wonderful Ashnil Aruba Lodge.

From my room, complete with ­balcony, I could watch over a large ­waterhole where I could see elephants ­bathing in mud in the distance.

Waterholes

By late afternoon the sun was low on the horizon and it was time to go on the second game drive. Now things got serious. The heat of the day had gone and animals were making their way to waterholes.

In no time we came across a herd of elephants making a ­beeline for the mud.

A massive female, the ­matriarch, crossed in front of us, almost daring us to move.

When we eventually drove on, William spotted a large male kudu antelope off to the side of the van. “Watch him,” he said.

And in the blink of an eye it was running at top speed, ­breaking through the low brush and passing so close that I could smell him.

It all became a bit of a blur after that. There were giraffes, ­buffalo, warthogs, antelope, ­ostrich, fish eagles, jackals and more elephants.

Catching some rays poolside at the Whitesands the next ­afternoon, it all seemed a bit unreal. I suppose that’s the ­question on safari – who was watching whom?

Oh well, best not ponder too deeply. Better to ask William for another Tusker and baste in factor 50, for tomorrow it’s back to the rain.

FACTFILE: Monarch Holidays offers a week at the five diamond-rated Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort starting from £867pp, based on two sharing, all-inclusive. ­Price covers flights to Mombasa from Gatwick or Manchester. To know more, visit www.monarch.co.uk.